RECONSTRUCTION UPDATE FROM RE (PART 4)

RE
RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Today was my revisit the reconstruction surgeon day. It has been a little over two months since the implant was put in. It seems to be fine, however I have pain deep beneath the implant and this has worried me. My surgeon also did a bit of cosmetic stuff to the side of the breast that was reconstructed to correct symmetry. That area has obviously got some nerve damage as I feel it fire off several times a day. What my surgeon told me was that the pain beneath the implant is due to the stretching of the muscle that the expander and implant were placed beneath. He showed me a diagram that shows that there are several nerves that run along that side and when the muscle is moved and stretched so are the nerves. He explained that this will subside with time, perhaps as little as 4 months or as much as 8 but that it will go away. I was glad to hear this as I was concerned about the pain, now that it has been clearly and logically explained I feel much better. He did say that the side area with the nerve damage will take longer to heal.

In addition to those concerns I have noticed an odd pointed and dipped area where the cleavage is, I had thought I would have to live with it, I was wrong. He is going to do a small in office procedure that will correct this in about 2 to 3 month. He said it is like sanding a car LOL, great now I am a car!

Have a great night ladies and gents,

RE
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Comments

  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    #2
    Oh, Re buffed and polished,
    Oh, Re buffed and polished, just like a luxury car. It's like detailing for the body.
    All kidding aside, it's great that he will be able to take care of this.
    Stef
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #3
    Oh my! Sanding!!?? LOL!

    I'm glad that these things can be corrected with relative ease! And I hope your pain stops soon!

    Hugs,

    CR
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #4
    CR1954 said:

    Oh my! Sanding!!?? LOL!

    I'm glad that these things can be corrected with relative ease! And I hope your pain stops soon!

    Hugs,

    CR

    YIKES
    RE, I do hope that your pain subsides very soon. And, I am glad that your surgeon can take care of what is wrong right in the office. But, sanding? Good luck RE!

    Hugs, Jeanne

    p.s. love the new pic of the grandkids! adorable!
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #5
    fauxma said:

    Oh, Re buffed and polished,
    Oh, Re buffed and polished, just like a luxury car. It's like detailing for the body.
    All kidding aside, it's great that he will be able to take care of this.
    Stef

    I am glad that you feel
    I am glad that you feel better now RE, at least mentally. Sounds like your surgeon is on top

    of it. Wishing you good luck and hopefully pain free very soon!
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #6
    Glad for ease of mind...
    Yes, pain can scare us - at least somewhat... Dear RE, I'm glad your surgeon was able to ease your thoughts - while sorry for your consistent pain and discomfort. The good news: time will heal.

    A car?!? Your doc has a sense of humor, eh? :-)

    Kind regards, Susan
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143 Member
    #7
    Glad to hear that everything is progressing as it should. It's nice to have an explanation for pain, isn't it? Otherwise it's hard not to worry. It sounds like you're on your way to "mint condition."

    Mimi
  • jikaras
    jikaras Member Posts: 58
    #8
    Muscle pain
    Yes, I too had extreme pain in the upper areas of my breasts and was told that it's the muscle that takes forever to get use to the enhancer/implants. It does go away, or maybe we just get use to it??

    I'm still trying to get my implants to move away from the arm-pit area.....I've got 2 dimples that weren't there before!

    J
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #9
    Glad things are going well
    Glad things are going well for you. This post reminded me of another one just a little while ago where someone is going in for reconstruction and friends and family are making light of it. It seems to me that it is far more complicated than some might think and not without risk. It sounds like your surgeon is taking the time to explain things to you which I'm sure makes a huge difference in how you feel. By the way, love the pic of your grandchildren. Have a good rest.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #10
    A car, maybe....but a beautiful, racy sportscar!!!!
    Maybe a Jaguar????

    HUgs, Kathi
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #11
    sanding a car
    never heard reconstruction in those terms. So glad your pain is normal and should subside. I have just gotten my insurance approval for my reconstruction, date tentatively set for August 17, so I will be interested in hearing how people are recovering from this.

    =^..^=
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #12
    cats_toy said:

    sanding a car
    never heard reconstruction in those terms. So glad your pain is normal and should subside. I have just gotten my insurance approval for my reconstruction, date tentatively set for August 17, so I will be interested in hearing how people are recovering from this.

    =^..^=

    Glad to hear that your
    Glad to hear that your surgeon helped you out, mentally and will physically. He sounds like a great guy! Good luck to you RE!

    And, good luck to you cat when you have your reconstruction. I thought you had a lumpectomy. Guess I have you mixed up with someone else.

    Hugs, Noel
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #13
    Noel said:

    Glad to hear that your
    Glad to hear that your surgeon helped you out, mentally and will physically. He sounds like a great guy! Good luck to you RE!

    And, good luck to you cat when you have your reconstruction. I thought you had a lumpectomy. Guess I have you mixed up with someone else.

    Hugs, Noel

    thanks Noel
    No you weren't wrong, some people call it lumpectomy because I still have the nipple and a little over half the breasts tissue, but so much was removed, and there is scarring that needs fixing, reconstruction is needed.

    =^..^=
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    #14
    cats_toy said:

    thanks Noel
    No you weren't wrong, some people call it lumpectomy because I still have the nipple and a little over half the breasts tissue, but so much was removed, and there is scarring that needs fixing, reconstruction is needed.

    =^..^=

    Question for Cat....
    First RE let me say that I am glad that the appointment went well today with your doctor... that is wonderful news... and to be sanded down like a sleek new model.... that's great..

    Now question for Cat... they can do reconstruction on a breast that had a lumpectomy?? I hadn't even thought to ask about that... The only reason I would is because most of the left side of mine is gone on the lest side... (surgeon told hubby he had to take more than he had thought) I can't even stand to look at it although my husband assures me it's "fine"... none of my bras fit... well it does on the right..

    Any way.. thanks

    PS Love the picture of the kitty... too cute
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #15
    taleena said:

    Question for Cat....
    First RE let me say that I am glad that the appointment went well today with your doctor... that is wonderful news... and to be sanded down like a sleek new model.... that's great..

    Now question for Cat... they can do reconstruction on a breast that had a lumpectomy?? I hadn't even thought to ask about that... The only reason I would is because most of the left side of mine is gone on the lest side... (surgeon told hubby he had to take more than he had thought) I can't even stand to look at it although my husband assures me it's "fine"... none of my bras fit... well it does on the right..

    Any way.. thanks

    PS Love the picture of the kitty... too cute

    Yes they can T
    It sounds like your surgery was like mine, and the surgeon did consider it a partial mastectomy, and since he took more than expected, he highly recommended reconstruction. I wasn't really considering it until I had the lumpy scar tissue just below my surgery scar that aches constantly. They said they could fix that. They can do the DIEP or TRAM flap, which is taking skin, muscle and blood vessels and just moving them under the skin to your breast, either from your tummy or your back. This way there is a constant blood flow and there is less chance that the skin will die. Mine can't be done that way because about 20 years ago I had my gallbladder removed the hard way, I have a scar from my breastbone and it follows down the line of my ribcage. And from the back is hard because they removed 13 lymph nodes and they usually cut the blood supply needed to come from the back. So, if I am a good candidate, they will do a FREE flap, which is removing the skin completely from the belly, removing all the radiated skin and scar tissue from my breast, and attaching the donor skin. This will be done by three surgeons (all of them young (30ish) and handsome). Two are microsurgeons to get the blood supply attached, and the third will do the donor site. I told them when I had the consult that this surely is a girls dream to have three nice looking young guys looking at my mangled boob......they laughed.
    Hope this helps!
    =^..^=
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #16
    Well, think of it this way....you'll now be a cadillac instead of a cobalt!! Sounds like an upgrade to me. But I hear these Doctors do great "body" work! :) Pammy
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #17
    cats_toy said:

    Yes they can T
    It sounds like your surgery was like mine, and the surgeon did consider it a partial mastectomy, and since he took more than expected, he highly recommended reconstruction. I wasn't really considering it until I had the lumpy scar tissue just below my surgery scar that aches constantly. They said they could fix that. They can do the DIEP or TRAM flap, which is taking skin, muscle and blood vessels and just moving them under the skin to your breast, either from your tummy or your back. This way there is a constant blood flow and there is less chance that the skin will die. Mine can't be done that way because about 20 years ago I had my gallbladder removed the hard way, I have a scar from my breastbone and it follows down the line of my ribcage. And from the back is hard because they removed 13 lymph nodes and they usually cut the blood supply needed to come from the back. So, if I am a good candidate, they will do a FREE flap, which is removing the skin completely from the belly, removing all the radiated skin and scar tissue from my breast, and attaching the donor skin. This will be done by three surgeons (all of them young (30ish) and handsome). Two are microsurgeons to get the blood supply attached, and the third will do the donor site. I told them when I had the consult that this surely is a girls dream to have three nice looking young guys looking at my mangled boob......they laughed.
    Hope this helps!
    =^..^=

    Cat, you have me confused
    Cat, you have me confused now. So, will you have to have skin grafts on your stomach then? And, isn't that involved, removing all of your radiated skin? This sounds awful, no offense. Is it really, or, is it just that I am squeamish and don't understand it.
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #18
    Kristin N said:

    Cat, you have me confused
    Cat, you have me confused now. So, will you have to have skin grafts on your stomach then? And, isn't that involved, removing all of your radiated skin? This sounds awful, no offense. Is it really, or, is it just that I am squeamish and don't understand it.

    sorry, I am new to this too
    Went to three different recon docs for opinions, and it is confusing. What I will have is like a tummy tuck, but they take the skin (and fat and blood vessels) from the tummy, and yes I have enough, and attach it to the breast where the radiated skin and tumor was removed. It is two procedures done at the same time. Later if I want I can have implants to even out the girls.
    Hope that helps some.
    =^..^=
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #19
    Thanks for sharing your reconstruction story. So many of us are on the fence and it helps to have someone ahead who is a pathfinder. Hugs to you, RE, Lynn
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #20
    cats_toy said:

    sorry, I am new to this too
    Went to three different recon docs for opinions, and it is confusing. What I will have is like a tummy tuck, but they take the skin (and fat and blood vessels) from the tummy, and yes I have enough, and attach it to the breast where the radiated skin and tumor was removed. It is two procedures done at the same time. Later if I want I can have implants to even out the girls.
    Hope that helps some.
    =^..^=

    It still baffles me
    It still baffles me cats_toy. Sorry. I get the tummy tuck skin taking, but, removing all of your radiated skin? That would be almost my whole right side. I have radiation from my collar bone, under my arm, under my breast and then to the middle between both of them. That is a lot. I would think that would be awful. Or, do I just not get this yet? I find it interesting but I just don't see how they can do that.
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #21
    susie09 said:

    It still baffles me
    It still baffles me cats_toy. Sorry. I get the tummy tuck skin taking, but, removing all of your radiated skin? That would be almost my whole right side. I have radiation from my collar bone, under my arm, under my breast and then to the middle between both of them. That is a lot. I would think that would be awful. Or, do I just not get this yet? I find it interesting but I just don't see how they can do that.

    sorry, I try to keep my posts short and it doesn't work sometime
    Mine was radiated just like yours, but the worst of the burn is at the tumor site. What will be removed is the badly radiated skin, the area the got the boosters, the area that has the lumps underneath that they say comes from the radiation, and enough to make a realistic looking breast on the right side of my right breast. Figure an eye shape (or if you know what a bisquit for woodworking looks like) with the points facing up and down.
    Hope that helps you to visualize it.

    Cat

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